- the relevant policies in place;
- staff resources available;
- the client cohort and the age of that client cohort;
- the institutional setting
Guidance for Life: An Integrated Framework for Lifelong Guidance in Ireland (2007) was the final report of the National Guidance Forum 2004 - 2006. During its term the National Guidance Forum agreed a common vision and definition of guidance for Ireland across the education, labour market and community sectors.
In Ireland, Lifelong Guidance is provided within education and training, for and with the labour market, and requires delivery approaches that are tailored to the target client group (e.g. students/adult learners etc.).
The Irish Education Act 1998, section 9(c) includes reference to the provision of guidance in schools in the following sections and subsections:
‘a recognised school shall….use its available resources to….ensure that students have access to appropriate guidance to assist them in their educational and career choices; promote the moral, spiritual, social and personal development of students and provide health education for them, in consultation with their parents, having regard to the characteristic spirit of the school'
Section 30 states that:
'The Minister may, from time to time, following such consultation with patrons of schools, national associations of parents, recognised school management organisations and recognised trade unions and staff associations representing teachers, as the Minister considers appropriate, prescribe the curriculum for recognised schools' - namely the guidance and counselling provision to be offered in schools may give directions to schools, where he or she considers it appropriate, to ensure that the subjects, syllabuses pursued in schools are appropriate and relevant to the educational and vocational needs of the students in those schools'
The key legislative and policy statements, circulars and documents published by the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) and the Department of Education and Skills (DES) can be accessed under the various sectoral heading (links) accross.
NCGE hosts the National Forum on Guidance twice per year to support communication co-operation and collaboration across the various guidance sectors in Ireland